BSL-3 lab at National Institute of Virology Kerala unit in Alappuzha ready, awaits certification

The establishment of a Biosafety Level-3 (BSL-3) laboratory at the National Institute of Virology (NIV) Kerala unit, at Kuravanthodu in Alappuzha, has been completed.

Officials said the laboratory would be made operational after it receives certification from the Department of Biotechnology under the Union government. Once functional, the facility will enable Nipah virus testing and final confirmation within the State. Currently, samples should be sent to NIV Pune for final confirmation.

“The BSL-3 lab will become operational soon. The trial run commenced three weeks ago and will continue for three months. Once the trial is complete, we will apply for certification from the Department of Biotechnology. After certification, the lab will be able to conduct diagnostic testing and research for various viral diseases, including Nipah. It can also conduct diagnostics, but not research, on Risk Group 4 pathogens,” said an official.

The National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) classifies laboratories into different categories from BSL 1 to 4 based on a combination of laboratory practices, safety equipment, and facilities. A BSL-3 lab is a high-containment facility intended for the testing and research of highly pathogenic and infectious agents. These labs include specialised safety systems and engineering controls.

The NIV Kerala unit, functioning under the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), was initially established as a BSL-2 facility in February 2008. It operated with limited infrastructure at the Government Medical College Hospital, Alappuzha, until late 2022, when it was relocated to a newly constructed permanent facility in Kuravanthodu. Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually inaugurated the new facility in Februray 2024.

At present, the unit undertakes research on various locally prevalent viral diseases, focusing on epidemiological, virological, immunological, entomological and socio-behavioural aspects.

Notably, the NIV Kerala unit was among the first four laboratories in India, apart from NIV Pune, the apex institution, to be designated as a State nodal laboratory for COVID-19 testing at the onset of the pandemic.